Lewisburg Area High School

Lewisburg Area High School
Location
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Information
School type	Public
School district	Lewisburg Area School District
Principal	David Himes
Enrollment	Approx. 600[1]
Mascot	Dragon
Website	http://www.lasd.us

Lewisburg Area High School is a public school located in Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the Lewisburg Area School District. The school's enrollment is approximately 600 students in grades nine through twelve. The school is commonly considered to be the top performing high school in the region. This is demonstrated in student SAT scores that are higher than state or national averages. LAHS eleventh grades scored in the top 16% on the Math PSSA’s in 2006. Reading PSSA scores were in the top 9% in the state in 2006. The graduation rate in 2006 was 95%. The graduation rate increased to 96% in 2007.^[2] In 2008 the graduation rate rose to an outstanding 98%.^[3]

The school serves the Lewisburg Borough, Kelly, East Buffalo and Union townships that collectively have a population of approximately 15,000.

Contents 1 Curriculum 2 PSSA Scores 3 College remediation rate 4 Graduation Rate 5 Graduation Requirements 6 Career Education 7 Student activities 8 Faculty 9 Internet Access Policy 10 External links 11 References

Curriculum

The academic program consists of a basic amount of courses. The high school offers multiple AP courses.

Lewisburg High School was named as one of the nation's outstanding high schools by US News and World Report in December 2008. The school was identified as a Silver level school for academic programs and student achievement.^[4]

In 2005, LAHS was ranked 30th out of 601 PA high schools for test scores on PSSAs. In 2006, LAHS was ranked 71st out of 609 high schools in Pennsylvania.^[5]

PSSA Scores

In 2010 and 2009, the high school achieved AYP status.^[6]

Reading (percent proficient or better)

• 2002: 81% on grade level, State - 59%
• 2003: 88%, State - 59.2%
• 2004: 83%, State - 60.8%
• 2005: 84.9%, State - 65.1% ^[7]
• 2006: 82%, State - 65.1% ^[8]
• 2007: 84.6%, State - 65.4% ^[9]
• 2008: 88.9%, State - 64.7% ^[10]
• 2009: 84%, State - 65.6% ^[11]
• 2010: 89%, State - 66% ^[12]
• 2011 - 85.7% on grade level, (59.4% Advanced). Ranked 1st among CSIU16 region 11th grades. In Pennsylvania 69% of 11th graders were reading on grade level. ^[13]

Math (percent proficient or better)

• 2002: 58% on grade level, State - 50%
• 2003: 64%, State - 49.1%
• 2004: 69%, State - 49.1%
• 2005: 68%, State - 51%
• 2006: 67%, State - 52%
• 2007: 69.8%, State - 53.7%^[2]
• 2008: 76%, State - 56% ^[10]
• 2009: 74%, State - 56% ^[11]
• 2010: 77%, State - 59% ^[14]
• 2011 - 77% (42% Advanced). Ranks 2nd among High Schools in CSIU16 region 11th grades. State - 60% of 11th graders were on grade level in math.

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 73% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. Ranked 1st among High Schools in CSIU16 region. ^[15]
• 2010 - 71%. State - 40%. Ranked 1st in CSIU16 region.^[16] In 2010 - 75% of Males scored advanced and proficient in 11th grade science. 67% of Females scored advanced and proficient.
• 2009 - 74%, State - 40%.^[17]
• 2008 - 68% (37% Advanced). State - 39%

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 7% of Lewisburg Area School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.^[18] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years.^[19] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Graduation Rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Lewisburg Area High School's rate was 95% for 2010.^[20]

Former AYP graduation rate:

• 2010 - 98% ^[21]
• 2009 - 98% ^[22]
• 2008 - 98%
• 2007 - 98% ^[23]

Graduation Requirements

English 4.0 (1 credit in each Grade 9-12), Social Studies 4.0 (1 credit each year 9-12), Science 4.0 (1 credit each Grade 9-12), Math 4.0 (1 credit each Grade 9-12), Arts and/or Humanities 2.0, Health .5, Physical Education 2.0 (.5 credit in each Grade 9-12), Electives 6.5. Total Credits 27^[24]

Students are also required to complete the Pennsylvania state-mandated "Graduation Project."^[25]

Career Education

In addition to the traditional bricks-and-mortar format, the school offers a cyber school called Blended Academy, alternative education and technology and job skills training at SUN Area Technology Institute.

Student activities

Music programs include band, choir, and orchestra with several ensemble groups. A fall play and spring musical are staged each year.

The school offers 19 interscholastic sports and several clubs and organizations. LASD is a founding member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference ^[26] for all athletics and participates under the rules and guidelines of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Faculty

The students are served by approximately 40 unionized faculty. All of the faculty are considered highly qualified under the No Child Left Behind Act. A variety of classified staff provide classroom support, clerical services, grounds and building services and food services.

Internet Access Policy

As of 2009, the school has implemented a strict policy with regards to student internet access. The school administration took steps to block many popular websites—some worth blocking (such as social networking sites) and some with educational merit. The policies sparked controversy in the high school and in Lewisburg as a whole. The administration stated that the polices stem from stipulations attached to their Classrooms for the Future grant, which allowed it to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on MacBook laptop computers. Local taxpayer advocates criticized the grants, which Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell gave to school districts across the state. Opponents of the policy argue that this excuse only justifies the blocking of social networking sites and not sites with potential educational value such as YouTube and Google Docs. The administration has, as of the end of the 2010-2011 school year, dodged questions about the policy and tensions between the student-teacher community and administration are high.^[27]

External links

• Lewisburg Area School District
• Lewisburg Area School District report card
• SUN Area Career and Technology Center

References